Monday, October 31, 2016

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

October 31,2016; 12:08PM,EDT

Another warmup will take shape over the northeastern United States at midweek.
Clear skies on Monday night will yield temperatures below freezing
across much of the interior Northeast and portions of the mid-Atlantic.
Those heading out for Halloween festivities will want to dress warmly.
"Following a chilly Monday night into Tuesday morning, the return of
warmer air will be on the horizon," AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Rinde
said.
Temperatures from Washington, D.C., to Boston early in the week will
hover between 15 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit lower than over the weekend.
Despite the cooler weather, high pressure will bring afternoon sunshine across the region through Tuesday.
Highs through Tuesday will range from the 40s and 50s from upstate
New York into New England, to the 50s and lower 60s across the
mid-Atlantic.RELATED:US winter forecast: Frequent snow to blast Northeast5 weather threats to be wary of during the fall Check AccuWeather MinuteCast® for your location
This cool air mass will be short-lived as another warmup will arrive by the middle of the week.
"A considerably milder air mass will reach the East by Wednesday," Rinde said.
The warmer air will stretch across locations west of the Appalachians
by Tuesday and reach the rest of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on
Wednesday. Highs at the peak of the warmth will be similar to those from
the weekend.
Highs will again reach into the 70s across much of the mid-Atlantic
and into the 60s across southern New York and New England. Highs will
hit in the 50s across northern New England.
However, the warm spell will be brief.
"An approaching storm will lead to the development of showers and
thunderstorms during Thursday afternoon from northern Virginia into
southern New England, some of which could contain damaging winds," Rinde
said.
Those along the Interstate-95 corridor from Boston to New York City
and Washington, D.C., will want to keep an eye to the sky for rapidly
changing weather conditions.Additional waves of colder air will make brief appearances to the Northeast for much of November and into December with brief warmups in-between.

By Brian Thompson, Meteorologist

October 31,2016; 11:44AM,EDT

No rain is in sight for most of the Southeast through the opening days of November, thanks to a persistent warm and dry pattern.
The ongoing stretch of warmth and dryness in the region will spell bad news for the worsening drought.
Cities such as Pensacola, Florida, as well as Birmingham and Mobile,
Alabama, are likely to end up with no measurable precipitation during
the month of October.
The dry weather has been accompanied by record-breaking warmth, which will continue for much of this week.
Atlanta will likely set a new record for the warmest September
through October period, on the heels of the city's second warmest
summer.

This chart displays stats through Oct. 30, 2016.
"The abnormal warmth contributes to more moisture evaporating out of
the soil. When the moisture does not get replenished, it's like a
vicious cycle," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mike Doll said.
Birmingham, Alabama, has not received measurable rainfall since Sept. 18.
The city will only have received 0.68 of an inch of rain for the
months of September and October, combined. That is just 9 percent of
what Birmingham typically receives over the two-month span.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, over 73 percent of Alabama is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions.
Mississippi has not fared much better. Both Jackson and Tupelo have
recorded just 12 percent of what each city receives in September and
October.
Drought areas across the state are affecting over 2.9 million people, U.S. Drought Monitor data reveals.RELATED:US winter forecast: Freeze may damage citrus crop in South5 weather threats to be wary of during the fall Halloween forecast: Chilly air to make a comeback in northeastern US in time for trick-or-treating
This persistent dry weather is not predicted to end anytime soon.
"Unfortunately, the jet stream pattern this week will continue to
guide storm systems and moisture north of the Southeast region," Doll
said.
With rainfall deficits growing deeper, several storm systems
producing heavy rain will be necessary to put a significant dent in the
building drought.
According to Doll, a pattern like this is not expected to materialize over the next couple of weeks.

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

October 31,2016; 11:08AM,EDT

Chilly air will surge southward across United Kingdom on Tuesday and bring a cool spell that will last into the weekend.
Temperatures will fall a couple of degrees below normal for early November.
The high in Manchester will climb to only around 10 C (50 F) on
Tuesday. Similar temperatures are expected in London and the rest of
southern England by Wednesday.
This cooler air will also bring an end to the widespread fog that hampered travel across much of the U.K. early in the week.
While a spotty morning shower cannot be ruled out across the Midlands
on Tuesday, largely rain-free weather will prevail elsewhere across
England through the middle of the week.
However, a storm will dive southward from Iceland late this week
unleashing wind, rain and high-elevation snow throughout the U.K.
Rain will spread over Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England
on Thursday before reaching the Midlands and southern U.K. on Thursday
night.
Showers will be scattered across the entire U.K. on Friday as the storm spins overhead.RELATED:United Kingdom Weather CenterMinuteCast® for your locationInteractive United Kingdom weather radar
While the storm will slowly move to the east this weekend, cold winds and blustery showers will persist.
The air will be cold enough to produce wintry showers across the
higher terrain of northern England and Scotland as early as Thursday
night.
The combination of gusty winds, showers and thick clouds will make it
feel more like December than early November across much of the U.K.
this weekend.
Depending on the strength of the storm at this time, wind gusts over
40 mph (65 km/h) are possible across southern and eastern England.
Another shot of chilly air following this storm will keep temperatures below normal into early next week.
Despite a chilly start to November, cold outbreaks are expected to be limited this winter while frequent windstorms threaten the United Kingdom.

By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

October 31,2016; 10:23AM,EDT

Across the United States, snow has already fallen in parts of the East and West, with much more on the way as winter creeps closer.
While many will soon be forced to get out snow shovels and snow
blowers to clear their sidewalks and driveways, perhaps in the
not-too-distant future robots will handle that burdensome task. At least
one company is already planning on it.Kobi, a 3-in-1
autonomous robot, was unveiled in October by The Kobi Company, a startup
based in New York City. The product is being described as the world's
first multi-functional robot for yard work in all seasons, as it's
capable of mowing the lawn and vacuuming leaves, in addition to clearing
snow.
Kobi comes with a companion app, which allows the user to drive the
device around their yard or driveway as well as instruct it where to
blow snow. It navigates on its own thanks to built-in GPS and a variety
of sensors. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data connectivity allow Kobi to
monitor the weather forecast so it knows when it will snow.(Photo/The Kobi Company/Steven Waelbers)
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Steven Waelbers told
AccuWeather the user is always in control of the device, meaning they
can have it set to follow the snow automatically or the person handling
Kobi can just turn it on when it's snowing.
Waelbers said Kobi's efficiency is increased because it clears snow in small layers, rather than waiting for it to accumulate.
"While it is still snowing, we go back and forth over the driveway and we remove small bits of snow at a time," Waelbers said.
Waelbers, along with co-founder and CEO Andrew Ewen, pointed out
several key reasons why they decided it was time to construct a
snow-removing robot.RELATED:The quest for a viral post: Social media linked to rise in avalanche fatalities in backcountry terrainAccuWeather winter weather centerSelf-driving cars: Will they be safe during bad weather?
Shoveling snow has been linked to health risks such as heart attacks
and people have suffered injuries to their limbs as the result of snow
blowers. Furthermore, yard work can be time-consuming. Having a robot
around can allow for more free time for people to enjoy other pursuits.
"We wanna change the way people think about cleaning their snow and
mowing their lawn," Ewen said. "We're moving in an age where robotics
can do a lot of those tasks intelligently."
For those interested in obtaining a Kobi, the product is still in the
testing phase, but it will be available for purchase in time for the
2017-2018 winter season for a price of $3,999.(Photo/The Kobi Company)
Kobi is the latest technological advance that aims to reduce time
spent on arduous yard work. In recent years, there has been a
proliferation in Uber-like snow removal
services where residents can simply request a driver with a snowplow
through an app. Within a designate timeframe, a plow operator will then
arrive at a person's home.
While Kobi is the first autonomous robotic device geared towards snow
removal that will eventually hit the market, people have experimented
with the idea elsewhere.
This coming January, the seventh annual Institute of Navigation Autonomous Snowplow Competition
(ION ASC) will take place in St. Paul, Minnesota, with teams coming
from across the U.S. and Canada to compete. The event's website states
that the competition's main purpose is to design, build and operate a
fully autonomous snowplow to remove snow from a designated path.
"Automated machines for snow removal will have huge benefits for
people," said Michael Ward, co-founder of Stray Robotics, a robotics
fabrication shop in Minneapolis. "A homeowner could employ this system
and never have to go out and shovel again. Their driveway would always
be clear in the mornings on their way to work and would still be clear
when they get home."
Before these robotic devices become widespread, there are hinderances
to identify. These include children or pets running in front of the
machine or cars parking in a new area. These distractions can provide a
test for developers and the computer system on a machine that was
running through its task. That's why at this year's competition, Ward
said they will make the entrants navigate their robots around moving
obstacles.
Still, Ward said there is an untapped market, and if the Kobi is
priced right and proven safe, similar products could become commonplace.
"I think the Kobi would be a tremendous help for homeowners," said
Ward, a ION ASC committee member. "I really like how it has attachments
for the various tasks that it can perform instead of having to buy a
Kobi for each season. They've really put some thought into their product
and I believe it'll jump-start a sort of yard work revolution."
Ewen said he has talked to interested consumers at trade shows who
were anticipating a product like Kobi and some commercial snow removal
services have already inquired. However, he did add that others will
need more time to get on the bandwagon.
"There is an aspect of consumers now that are realizing that
robotics... well it's starting to play a very important part in their
lives," Ewen said. "More and more people are accepting of it."

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

October 31,2016; 10:12AM,EDT

A shot of cold air will sweep across Germany during the middle of the
week, opening the door for future invasions of arctic chill throughout
November.
A cold front rushing southward across Germany on Tuesday night into Wednesday will unleash the first round of chilly air.
High temperatures will climb to around 10 C (50 F) from Stuttgart to Cologne and Dortmund on Wednesday and Thursday.
The coldest air will hit from Hamburg to Berlin and Dresden where high temperatures will reach only 5-6 C (41-43 F) on Thursday.
The normal high temperature in Berlin for early November in around 9 C (49 F).
Accompanying the chilly air, scattered showers will likely occur from
Hamburg and Cologne to Dresden and Nuremberg during the middle of the
week.
Showers are expected to be brief, lasting less than 30 minutes at a time.
Locations such as Munich and Stuttgart are expected to be rain-free on Wednesday and Thursday.RELATED:Germany Weather CenterMinuteCast® for your locationInteractive Germany weather radar
A brief shower could dampen areas around Berlin on Wednesday before drier weather returns on Thursday.
A significant storm system will impact Germany from Sunday into
Monday and bring chilly rain, gusty winds and high-elevation snow
throughout the country.
Following this storm, the coldest air since last winter settle across
Germany. Another shot of frigid air could follow before the end of next
week.

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

October 31,2016; 10:05AM,EDT

As the calendar flips over to November, the 2016 Atlantic hurricane
season will enter its final month. The big question is, will there be
anymore brewing storms across the basin?
Up to this point, the season has been rather active. A total of 14
named-storms have formed, putting this season above the average of 12.
Of those 12, six went on to become hurricanes, three of them reaching
major hurricane status. Both of those numbers are typical for the
season.
While the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to
November 30, the season on average features the most activity between
late August and the end of September and declines afterwards.
"As we head into November, historically the likelihood of tropical
cyclone formation drops significantly," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ed
Vallee said.
The tropics have indeed turned quiet as of late. The last system to form was Hurricane Nicole back on October 4.
There are several reasons for a decline in tropical activity late in the season.
"Lowering water temperatures and significantly higher wind shear
across the Atlantic are two major factors for a decrease in development
in November," Vallee said.
Wind shear refers to the changing speed and direction of the wind
with height. Strong winds aloft can disrupt and prevent storms from
organizing.
The jet stream, a river of fast moving air high in the atmosphere,
begins to descend farther south during the autumn months and leads to
increased wind shear across portions of the Atlantic basin, especially
the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast.
This tends to push the development zone farther south and east away from the United States.
"The most common areas of development are in the Caribbean and out in the central Atlantic," Vallee said.
These areas, and the rest of the Atlantic basin, are quiet as of now and will likely remain that way through at least next week.
"There are no tropical systems at this time but there are a few
features we are watching," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mike Doll said.
One of these features is an area of low pressure north of Puerto
Rico. It will remain nearly-stationary early this week before it tracks
northeastward away from land.
"The chance of this feature becoming a tropical system is very low," Doll said.
The other feature, another area of low pressure, is southwest of
Grand Cayman Island and is very disorganized. It will likely not pose
any threat for further development.
Wind shear is expected to remain high this week across the typical
breeding grounds which will hinder any possible development with passing
tropical waves. This will likely remain a common issue through the rest
of the month.RELATED:AccuWeather Hurricane CenterHurricane Matthew uncovers Civil War-era cannonballs in Folly Beach, South CarolinaWATCH: Aerial footage shows extreme erosion of Florida Beach
However, the disruptive shear can relax for a short amount of time and if that does occur, a system could quickly develop.
"Water temperatures are above normal in the Caribbean and Atlantic,
so the threat for some formation remains possible through the end of the
hurricane season," Vallee said.
If a feature can organize and become a named storm, the next name on the list is Otto.
A strong tropical system this November would not be unprecedented.
Hurricane Kate in 1985 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999 are two examples of
late-season hurricanes that formed during the middle of November. Both
systems reached major hurricane status.

A major coastal storm produced damaging winds and heavy inland snow
across the Northeast late in October of 2011. The storm dumped over 2
feet of snow in western Massachusetts and was responsible for the deaths
of 39 people.

A
surreal 2016 World Series features two cold-climate cities starving for
their first baseball championship since the early 20th century now
shifts back to Cleveland.
Usually the words "November" and
"Cleveland" elicit thoughts of cold, windy weather. But for games 6 and 7
of the World Series, it will feel like September baseball, instead.

Game 6 - Tuesday Night

A warm front will surge well north of the Buckeye State Tuesday.
Fortunately,
the trailing frontal boundary in the Great Lakes will be mainly dry
Tuesday, so the bottom line for the game itself is warm and breezy
conditions.
(FORECAST: Cleveland)
The forecast calls for southerly winds and evening (game-time) temperatures in the upper 60s.
These
are evening temperatures more typical of a mid-September game at
Progressive Field, rather than early November, when you would expect
evening temperatures in the upper 40s or low 50s.

Game 7 Outlook - Wednesday Night

If the Chicago Cubs win game 6, weather for game 7 gets a bit more interesting.
The aforementioned trailing frontal boundary gets energized as it sags to the south.
It
will still remain north and west of Cleveland through Wednesday night,
so the best chance of rain should also remain near that boundary, rather
than over Cleveland, during the game.

Game 7 First-Pitch Forecast

That
said, we still cannot completely rule out a brief shower. However, it
should be nothing that raises too much concern for the game.
It will remain mild as well with temperatures in the 60s during the evening.
The
only World Series game in league history to be suspended due to rain
was Game 5 of the 2008 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies, when the combination of rain and wind in Philadelphia forced the Oct. 27 game to be completed two days later.
Coincidentally, current Cubs manager Joe Maddon was skipper of the Rays in that series eight years ago.
Incidentally,
the coldest World Series game of the last 40 years was on Oct. 22,
1997, in Cleveland, with a game-time temperature of 38 degrees, wind
chills in the upper teens and flurries falling during the game.
Check back with us at weather.com for the latest updates on the World Series weather forecast.

MORE: 50 Places For Fall Colors

Brian Donegan
Published: October 31,2016
Halloween will be a "treat" for the majority of the country, with dry trick-or-treating and pleasant temperatures.
Although
parts of the nation's northern tier and West Coast are at risk for wet
weather, even that may not be a complete drenching.(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)
Temperatures
will be well-above average Monday in much of the central and southern
states, so a fairly nice October day is in store for a large swath of
the Lower 48 states. Some locations will smash daily record highs,
making it the warmest Halloween on record for those spots.(MORE: Record Warmth Closes Out October)

Halloween Night Forecast

Northeast

The
Northeast will enjoy dry conditions as an area of low pressure pushes
away from the coast and high pressure builds into the region.
High
temperatures will generally be near average for late October with highs
in the 40s and 50s across New England and upstate New York, with 50s
and 60s expected in the mid-Atlantic states.
Low temperatures
overnight will dip into the 20s and 30s for New England and upstate New
York, with 40s and a few 50s into the mid-Atlantic states.(FORECAST: Boston | New York | Pittsburgh | Washington D.C.)

Halloween Forecast

Midwest

The
best chance of rain will be near the Canadian border as a low-pressure
system moves through, but the rest of the Midwest is looking dry and
breezy.
High temperatures across the region will be up to 30
degrees warmer than average. This translates into high temperatures in
the 70s and low 80s for the central Plains into the mid-Mississippi
Valley, with 50s and 60s farther to the north and east.
Low
temperatures overnight will drop into the 30s and 40s behind the cold
front in the northern Plains. Temperatures will only bottom out in the
50s and 60s from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the southern Great
Lakes and Ohio Valley.(FORECAST: Detroit | Chicago | Minneapolis | St. Louis)

West

The
Northwest, including parts of northern California, will have the
greatest chance for some wet weather on Halloween, due to a southward
dip in the jet stream over the region.
Southern California into
the Desert Southwest will be dominated by an area of high pressure and,
consequently, dry and pleasant weather.
Temperatures will be cool
in the Pacific Northwest due to more persistent clouds and the risk for
showers. Highs in the 50s can be expected there, with 40s in the higher
elevations.
Elsewhere across the West, highs in the 60s and 70s
are likely, with the exception of the lower elevations of the Southwest
where highs in the 80s are expected.
Low temperatures will be in
the 30s and 40s for much of the West, with 50s and 60s along the
California coast and into the Desert Southwest.(FORECAST: Los Angeles | Denver | Seattle | Salt Lake City)

A Snowy Halloween?

Given all of this warmth, virtually all of you won't see snow on the pumpkins this year.
Alaska-based climatologist, Dr. Brian Brettschneider, plotted the chance of a "White Halloween" in any year in the U.S. and Canada.

As you can see, unless you're in the Rockies,
High Plains, northern Plains, far northern Great Lakes or high country
of northern New England, your chances are pretty slim.MORE: Vintage Halloween Photos

October 31,2016
After central Italy was rocked
by a 6.6 magnitude earthquake Sunday morning, experts say they can't
exclude the possibility that there will be more, possibly stronger
aftershocks in the area near Norcia .
British Geological Survey
seismologist Margarita Segou told the Associated Press that the
important thing to realize is that, while the number of temblors will
decline over time, "we cannot exclude the possibility of larger
magnitude aftershocks.
Carlo Doglioni, president of Italy's
National Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology, Carlo Doglioni, told
The Associated Press that the intense activity along a series of faults
in the region wasn't anomalous and ​that more significant quakes can be
expected.
He said there was a similar sequence of three seismic
events within a period of months in 1703, adding "it is normal for the
Apennines," where there are a series of interdependent faults.
Doglioni
said that natural law dictates that after such an event that there will
be more quakes, "which means we can expect some 5 magnitude quakes and
many of magnitude 4."(MORE: Two Faults 'Holding Hands' Could Unleash Huge California Quake)The USGS says the
quake was centered about 4 miles north of Norica, Italy, and hit at
7:40 a.m. local time. Last Wednesday's 6.1 and 5.5 magnitude earthquakes
were also centered in this same general area, along with many
aftershocks in the following days.
There were no immediate reports
of deaths, but about 20 people had suffered injuries as numerous
buildings that had resisted the previous temblors collapsed.
Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi said the nation's "soul is disturbed" by the
series of quakes that began with the deadly Aug. 24 quake that killed
almost 300 people.
He has vowed that the country will rebuild the
homes, churches and other structures destroyed by the temblor, which is
the latest to strike the region since Wednesday.
"We will rebuild
everything - the houses, the churches, the shops," said Renzi. "We are
dealing with marvelous territories, territories of beauty. These
villages are the identity of Italy. We must reconstruct them all,
quickly and well."
Residents already rattled by a constant
trembling of the earth rushed into piazzas and streets after being
roused from bed by the 7:40 a.m. quake.
Many people still had been
sleeping in cars or evacuated to shelters or hotels in other areas
after a pair of strong jolts on Wednesday. Curcio said 1,300 had been
evacuated to the coast, and more would follow.

Rubble
of a collapsed building in L'Aquila, central Italy, after an earthquake
with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 struck central Italy, Sunday, Oct.
30, 2016. A powerful earthquake rocked the same area of central and
southern Italy hit by quake in August and a pair of aftershocks last
week, sending already quake-damaged buildings crumbling after a week of
temblors that have left thousands homeless. (Alberto Orsini/ANSA via AP)

The
quake struck a cluster of mountain towns, many of historic
significance, already reeling from last week's pair of aftershocks to an
August earthquake that killed nearly 300: Norcia, Visso,
Castelsantangelo sul Nero and Preci.
The head of the civil
protection authority in Italy's Marche region, Cesare Spuri, said there
were reports of buildings collapsing in many cities.
"We are trying to understand if people are under the rubble," Spuri said.
In
the ancient city of Norcia, famed for its Benedictine monastery and its
cured meats, witnesses said the 14th century St. Benedict cathedral
crumbled, leaving only its facade standing.
Television images in
the minutes after the quake showed nuns rushing out of their church and
into Norcia's main piazza as the clock tower appeared ready to fall. One
nun had to be carried by firefighters, while another was supported as
she walked. Later, priests and nuns prayed in the square amid the
rubble.
"It's as if the whole city fell down," Norcia city assessor Giuseppina Perla told the ANSA news agency.
The
town closest to the quake's epicenter, Norcia is the birthplace of St.
Benedict, the father of monasticism and has suffered a series of
earthquakes over its history. The cathedral was built over Benedict's
birthplace.
The monks of Norcia confirmed the collapse of the St.
Benedict cathedral in a letter launching an immediate fundraising
campaign to rebuild.

The
current superior, who signed the letter to supporters as the Rev.
Benedict, reported the cathedral was "flattened," and that monks were
combing the city to help where needed.
"May this image serve to
illustrate the power of this earthquake, and the urgency we monks feel
to seek out those who need the sacraments on this difficult day for
Italy," he wrote.
The deputy mayor of Norcia, Pierluigi Altavilla, said his house remained standing, but everything inside had been toppled.
"It seemed like a bomb exploded inside the house," he told Sky TG24.
The
hilltop town of Camerino, some 60 kilometers from Ancona, suffered new
building collapses but no reports of injuries. City spokesman Emmanuele
Pironi said the main fire hall had been rendered uninhabitable and that
they had transferred to a warehouse.
"An hour and a half after the quake, we can be reassured," Pironi told The Associated Press.
Pironi
said most of the area's 9,000 university students had left after the
town's historic center was closed due to danger of collapses last week,
and some of the 7,000 residents had been moved to hotels near the coast
or to shelters nearby. Few remained in their homes.
The mayor of quake-hit Ussita said a huge cloud of smoke erupted from the crumbled buildings.
"It's a disaster, a disaster!" Mayor Marco Rinaldi told ANSA. "I was sleeping in the car and I saw hell."
In
Arquata del Tronto, which had been devastated by the Aug. 24 earthquake
that killed nearly 300 people, Arquata Mayor Aleandro Petrucci said,
"There are no towns left."
"Everything came down," he said.
New collapses also were reported in Tolentino, where the news agency ANSA said three people were extracted from the rubble.
The
quake was felt throughout the Italian peninsula, with reports as far
north as Bolzano near the Austrian border and as far south as Bari in
the Puglia region. Residents rushed into the streets in Rome, where
ancient palazzi shook, swayed and lurched for a prolonged spell.
Austria's
governmental earthquake monitoring organization said the quake was felt
to varying degrees in the east and south of the country and all the way
to the city of Salzburg. It says that at its strongest, residents in
upper floors noticed a swaying sensation and a slow swinging of hanging
objects.
The quake sent boulders raining onto state highways and
smaller roads, forcing closures throughout the quake zone that was
impeding access to hard-hit cities such as Norcia. Traffic was being
diverted to other roads.
The Salaria highway, one of the main highways in the region, was closed at certain points as it was after Wednesday's quakes.
In addition, Italy's rail line said some local lines in Umbria and Le Marche were closed as a precaution.
The
European-Mediterranean Seismological Center put the magnitude at 6.6 or
6.5 with an epicenter 132 kilometers northeast of Rome and 67
kilometers east of Perugia, near the epicenter of last week's temblors.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.6.
The German
Research Centre for Geosciences put the magnitude at 6.5 and said it had
a depth of 10 kilometers, a relatively shallow quake near the surface
but in the norm for the quake-prone Apennine Mountain region.

Chris Dolce
Published: October 31,2016
Record warmth will continue to
give a summer feel into the first days of November this week, with
hundreds of daily record highs and warm lows likely to be set and also
some monthly record highs expected in parts of the heat-weary South and
Plains states.
Numerous daily record highs were broken Sunday.
Atlanta's record high of 86 degrees was the latest 86-degree day on
record there, surpassing the previous date of Oct. 28, 1940.
Meridian,
Mississippi, hit 90 degrees Sunday, the latest such reading on record,
there, beating the previous record by a full week (Oct. 23, 1941), not
to mention adding to a new yearly record of 90-degree-plus days, there.

Wednesday's Forecast

Highs more than 10 degrees above average will
spread into parts of the Northeast, while also continuing in much of
the Midwest and South. Portions of the Ohio Valley and southern Great
Lakes will be more than 20 degrees above average.

70s are expected in the southern Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic states.

80s will dominate the Southeast, though it won't be quite as warm as previous days.

Daily record highs will be within reach in parts of the South and Ohio Valley.

Heat Wave Recap

Thursday, Phoenix smashed their record latest-in-season 100-degree high by four days.

Other record highs were tied or set Thursday in
Denver (83 degrees), Salt Lake City (78 degrees) and Tucson, Arizona
(97 degrees).
Friday, October 28, record highs were shattered in
Garden City, Kansas (91 degrees - old record was 83), and Dodge City,
Kansas (92 degrees - old record was 85) and new records were set in
Amarillo, Texas (87 degrees), Pueblo, Colorado (87 degrees) and
Meridian, Mississippi (89 degrees).
Friday was the fifth daily
record high this month in Meridian, and was their hottest temperature so
late in the season. Previously, the latest they reached 89 degrees was
October 26, 2010. This is their average high on September 8.
Daily record high temperatures were toppled in many cities on Saturday. Among them were Huntsville, Alabama (88 degrees), and Amarillo, Texas (91 degrees), which both saw their warmest temperature so late in the calendar year.
Daily record highs were also set Saturday in Asheville, North Carolina (81 degrees), Blacksburg, Virginia (79 degrees), Nashville, Tennessee (86 degrees), Tupelo, Mississippi (89 degrees), St. Louis, Missouri (86 degrees), and Phoenix, Arizona (96 degrees).

How Warm It's Been

Many locations in the central and eastern United States have already experienced a very warm October.
This
includes a large number of locations that will see warmer-than-average
temperatures through Halloween. The only exception is the Northeast,
where it will be near or even slightly below average through Halloween.

Temperatures
compared to average Oct. 1-24, 2016. Areas shaded orange and brown have
seen temperatures the farthest above average overall.(Oregon State University Prism Climate Group)

A low pressure area will shift across the northern Plains on Monday, while a Pacific system moves over the West Coast.

An
area of low pressure will push east northeastward from the upper
Intermountain West to south central Canada. This system will usher light
to moderate rain across the northern Plains and the northern edge of
the upper Midwest. A cold frontal boundary associated with this system
will extend southwestward from the northern Plains to the Southwest.
Light to moderate rain and high elevation snow showers will develop
across the Wasatch and the Rockies. Gusty winds will also impact the
region on Monday.

Another area of low pressure will move onshore
over the Northwest. A cold frontal boundary associated with this system
will generate periods of moderate to heavy rain and mountain snow across
the Pacific Northwest, the northern Great Basin and northern
California. Locally heavy precipitation will affect western facing
slopes in northwest California, western Oregon and western Washington.

A
dry weather pattern will persist across most states stretching from the
southern Plains to the Southeast. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees
above normal in the central and the southern Plains.

A cold and
dry air mass will spread across the Northeast on Monday. High
temperatures will struggle to climb above the lower 50s in New England.
Boston, Mass., will be sunny with a high of 51(F)/ 10(C). Portland,
Maine, will be partly cloudy with a high of 52(F)/ 11(C).

1846
- Eighty-seven pioneers were trapped by early snows in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains that piled five feet deep, with 30 to 40 foot drifts.
Just 47 persons survived the "Donner Pass Tragedy". (The Weather
Channel)

1950
- Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in the central U.S. for
Halloween. The temperature soared to 83 degrees at Minneapolis MN, their
warmest reading of record for so late in the season. (The Weather
Channel)

1965
- Fort Lauderdale, FL, was deluged with 13.81 inches of rain, which
brought their rainfall total for the month of October to an all-time
record of 42.43 inches. (30th-31st) (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1987
- Halloween was a wet one in the southwestern U.S. Heavy rain in
southern California resulted in numerous mudslides. Weather-related auto
accidents resulted in three deaths and twenty-five injuries. Mount
Wilson CA received 3.14 inches of rain in 24 hours. Yakima WA reported
measurable rainfall for the first time since the 18th of July. The 103
day long dry spell was their longest of record. (The National Weather
Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
- Twenty-two cities in the northeastern U.S. reported record low
temperatures for the date. The low of 19 degrees at Cleveland OH was a
record for October, and morning lows of 21 degrees at Allentown PA and
Bridgeport CT tied October records. Nine cities in the southwestern U.S.
reported record high temperatures for the date, including Phoenix AZ
with a reading of 96 degrees. Showers made Halloween a soggy one in the
southeastern U.S. (The National Weather Summary)

1989
- Halloween night was a soggy one in New England. Showers in the
northeastern U.S. produced more than an inch and a half of rain in six
hours at some locations. An invasion of cold arctic air brought an
abrupt end to a week of "Indian Summer" type weather in the Great Lakes
Region, and brought snow and subzero wind chill readings to the Northern
Plains. In Colorado, Alamosa was the cold spot in the nation with a
record low of two degrees above zero, and a Halloween night storm
brought 3 to 6 inches of snow to the Front Range, and 5 to 10 inches to
the nearby foothills. Icy streets around Denver the next morning made
for a rather spooky commute. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Here's the 15-day weather forecast for the New York City metro-area for the period of the last 2 days of October and the first 13 days of November (October 30-November 13),2016 from The Weather Channel's web-site;weather.com

Tomorrow,October 31: Halloween 2016 will be turning sunny and markedly colder than recent days as it turns chilly,with a high temperature of just 50-55 degrees.

Tomorrow night,October 31-November 1: Becoming clear and cold with a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 30's,overnight.

Tuesday,November 1: November of 2016 begins turning mostly sunny and milder,with a high temperature of 55-60 degrees.Becoming partly cloudy and warmer than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 45-50 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,November 2: Turning unseasonably mild,once again,with a mix of sunshine and some clouds and a high temperature in the middle and upper 60's.Remaining unseasonably mild for the beginning of November,with a few clouds and a low temperature dropping to 50-55 degrees, overnight.

Thursday,November 3: Becoming partly cloudy through the morning,followed by increasing cloudiness and a chance for some afternoon rain and a high temperature of 65-70 degrees.Not as mild,with a few clouds and a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 40's,overnight.

Friday,November 4: Turning sunny and markedly colder than recent days,as it turns chilly,once again, with a high temperature of just 50-55 degrees.Turning clear and much colder than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Saturday,November 5: Turning partly cloudy and seasonably cool for very early November,with a high temperature in the middle 50's.Remaining seasonably chilly to cold for mid-autumn,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower 40's,overnight.

Sunday,November 6: Turning chilly,despite plentiful sunshine,with a high temperature only in the upper 40's to lower 50's.Remaining clear and seasonably cold for mid-autumn,with a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Monday,November 7: Remaining mostly sunny and chilly for early November,with a high temperature only in the upper 40's to lower 50's,once again.Remaining clear and seasonably cold with a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 30's,overnight.

Tuesday,November 8: Election Day 2016 will be remaining mostly sunny and seasonably cool for early November with a high temperature of 50-55 degrees.Becoming mostly cloudy through the evening followed by partly cloudy skies late,with a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,November 9: Becoming partly cloudy,but remaining seasonably cool for early November,with a high temperature in the lower and middle 50's.Remaining partly cloudy and chilly to cold,but not too terribly so for early November,and mid-autumn,with a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,once again,overnight.

Friday,November 11: Veteran's Day 2016 will be remaining mostly sunny and mild,with a high temperature of 50-55 degrees,once again.Turning partly cloudy in the evening followed by increasing cloudiness and occasional late-night rain possible and a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower 40's,overnight.

Saturday,November 12: Turning cloudy and rainy,but remaining a bit mild for early-to-mid November and mid-to-late autumn,with considerable cloudiness and occasional rain possible and a high temperature,for the third straight day,of 50-55 degrees.Remaining cloudy and rainy with evening rain followed by intermittent late-night rain possible and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,November 13: Remaining cloudy and rainy with morning rain followed by intermittent afternoon rain possible and a high temperature only in the upper 40's to lower 50's.Becoming partly cloudy in the evening followed by increasing cloudiness and a chance for a few late-night rain showers and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,once again,overnight.

By Brian Thompson, Meteorologist

October 30,2016; 9:55PM,EDT

No rain is in sight for most of the Southeast through the opening days of November, thanks to a persistent warm and dry pattern.
The ongoing stretch of warmth and dryness in the region will spell bad news for the worsening drought.
Cities such as Pensacola, Florida, as well as Birmingham and Mobile,
Alabama, are likely to end up with no measurable precipitation during
the month of October.
The dry weather has been accompanied by record-breaking warmth, which will continue for much of this week.
Atlanta will likely set a new record for the warmest September
through the October period, on the heels of the city's second warmest
summer.
"The abnormal warmth contributes to more moisture evaporating out of
the soil. When the moisture does not get replenished, it's like a
vicious cycle," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mike Doll said.
Birmingham, Alabama, has not received measurable rainfall since Sept. 18.
The city will only have received 0.68 of an inch of rain for the
months of September and October, combined. That is just 9 percent of
what Birmingham typically receives over the two-month span.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, over 73 percent of Alabama is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions.
Mississippi has not fared much better. Both Jackson and Tupelo have
recorded just 12 percent of what each city receives in September and
October.
Drought areas across the state are affecting over 2.9 million people, U.S. Drought Monitor data reveals.RELATED:US winter forecast: Freeze may damage citrus crop in South5 weather threats to be wary of during the fall Halloween forecast: Chilly air to make a comeback in northeastern US in time for trick-or-treating
This persistent dry weather is not predicted to end anytime soon.
"Unfortunately, the jet stream pattern this week will continue to
guide storm systems and moisture north of the Southeast region," Doll
said.
With rainfall deficits growing deeper, several storm systems
producing heavy rain will be necessary to put a significant dent in the
building drought.
According to Doll, a pattern like this is not expected to materialize over the next couple of weeks.

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

October 30,2016; 9:05PM,EDT

As the calendar flips over to November, the 2016 Atlantic hurricane
season will enter its final month. The big question is, will there be
anymore brewing storms across the basin?
Up to this point, the season has been rather active. A total of 14
named-storms have formed, putting this season above the average of 12.
Of those 12, six went on to become hurricanes, three of them reaching
major hurricane status. Both of those numbers are typical for the
season.
While the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to
November 30, the season on average features the most activity between
late August and the end of September and declines afterwards.
"As we head into November, historically the likelihood of tropical
cyclone formation drops significantly," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ed
Vallee said.
The tropics have indeed turned quiet as of late. The last system to form was Hurricane Nicole back on October 4.
There are several reasons for a decline in tropical activity late in the season.
"Lowering water temperatures and significantly higher wind shear
across the Atlantic are two major factors for a decrease in development
in November," Vallee said.
Wind shear refers to the changing speed and direction of the wind
with height. Strong winds aloft can disrupt and prevent storms from
organizing.
The jet stream, a river of fast moving air high in the atmosphere,
begins to descend farther south during the autumn months and leads to
increased wind shear across portions of the Atlantic basin, especially
the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast.
This tends to push the development zone farther south and east away from the United States.
"The most common areas of development are in the Caribbean and out in the central Atlantic," Vallee said.
These areas, and the rest of the Atlantic basin, are quiet as of now and will likely remain that way through at least next week.
"There are no tropical systems at this time but there are a few
features we are watching," AccuWeather Meteorologist Mike Doll said.
One of these features is an area of low pressure north of Puerto
Rico. It will remain nearly-stationary early this week before it tracks
northeastward away from land.
"The chance of this feature becoming a tropical system is very low," Doll said.
The other feature, another area of low pressure, is southwest of
Grand Cayman Island and is very disorganized. It will likely not pose
any threat for further development.
Wind shear is expected to remain high this week across the typical
breeding grounds which will hinder any possible development with passing
tropical waves. This will likely remain a common issue through the rest
of the month.RELATED:AccuWeather Hurricane CenterHurricane Matthew uncovers Civil War-era cannonballs in Folly Beach, South CarolinaWATCH: Aerial footage shows extreme erosion of Florida Beach
However, the disruptive shear can relax for a short amount of time and if that does occur, a system could quickly develop.
"Water temperatures are above normal in the Caribbean and Atlantic,
so the threat for some formation remains possible through the end of the
hurricane season," Vallee said.
If a feature can organize and become a named storm, the next name on the list is Otto.
A strong tropical system this November would not be unprecedented.
Hurricane Kate in 1985 and Hurricane Lenny in 1999 are two examples of
late-season hurricanes that formed during the middle of November. Both
systems reached major hurricane status.

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

October 30,2016; 8:25PM,EDT

Dry and mild weather will dominate a large part of the United States
as trick-or-treaters head out the door on Monday evening, Oct. 31.
Rain jackets and winter coats can be left behind across most of the
central and eastern U.S., but rain could put a damper on Halloween
festivities across parts of the Upper Midwest and West Coast.
Before heading outside on Monday evening, check AccuWeather MinuteCast® to know exactly when rain will fall.Showers could dampen Halloween plans across Upper Midwest, West Coast
Trick-or-treaters across a portion of the West and Upper Midwest will
need to think twice before leaving the house without rain gear on
Halloween.
Trick-or-treaters may need some rain protection for their costumes
across North Dakota, Minnesota and Upper Michigan, as well as along the
West Coast from Seattle to San Francisco.
"The steadiest rain is likely to fall in northeastern North Dakota
and northern California," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina
Pydynowski said.
Most of the rain, otherwise, will be hit-or-miss in nature, with some
areas getting missed completely by any wet weather. However, there
could even be isolated thunder and lightning in western Upper Michigan
and neighboring northern Wisconsin to add to the spooky nature of the
evening.RELATED:Top weather phobias explored: Millions of Americans experience these weather fears5 weather threats to be wary of during the fall Interactive weather radar
Those who do not wish to cover up their costumes with a rain jacket
while trick-or-treating should consider bringing along an umbrella or
poncho to dodge any rain.
Despite the potential for wet weather, there will not be a need for
extra layers under costumes as temperatures will be about 10 degrees
above normal across the Midwest.
Temperatures will be closer to seasonable levels along the West Coast.Dry, mild weather to dominate central, southern US
A dry and mild Halloween is in store for many across the central and southern states.
"Much of the central U.S. through the Southeast looks dry and
unseasonably warm for trick-or-treating activities," AccuWeather
Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said.
Extra layers and winter coats can be left behind even as the sun dips below the horizon.(Thinkstock/Zoonar/Zoonar RF)
After record highs are set during the day, temperatures will
generally be in the 70s across the South and South Central states.
Early-evening temperatures in the 60s are expected across the Upper
Midwest.
Only very spotty showers and rumble of thunder may linger from the
afternoon into the evening along the southern Texas coast as winds blow
off the Gulf of Mexico.Chill to return to Northeast in time for Halloween
After a warmup over the weekend, cooler air will return to the Northeast in time for Halloween.
"Temperatures will be in the 30s in the interior of northern England
and upstate New York and the 40s in southern and eastern New England by
the time trick-or-treaters head out the door," Pydynowski said.
Across the mid-Atlantic, temperatures will range from the 40s across the north to the 50s in the south.
Jackets or extra layers may be needed for those sensitive to the cool
conditions, but rain gear can be left at home as dry conditions will
prevail across the region.

October 30,2016; 8:36PM,EDT

Winter will continue to get a grip on the weather in the northeastern
United States during November as waves of colder air roll in with
occasional storms.
In the short term, warmth that has persisted over much of the Central states during October will bulge into the mid-Atlantic into this week. However, waves of chilly air will limit the warmups over upstate New York and New England.
The waves of chilly air will become more aggressive with weaker
warmups in between the cold blasts from mid-November into December,
according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
"In most areas of the Northeast, this November will likely be
perceived as being rather cold," Pastelok said. "We expect this
November, and this winter for that matter, to be significantly colder
than last year, but temperatures are likely to average near normal."
Temperatures averaged 6-10 degrees above normal during the period from November through December in 2015.
Normal temperatures trend downward significantly during November and into December.
At the start of November, normal high temperatures range from middle
60s in southeastern Virginia to the middle 40s in northern Maine. By the
first week in December, normal high temperatures range from the middle
50s in southeastern Virginia to the lower 30s in northern Maine.
"Additional storms similar to the ones that brought snow this past
week can repeat during the late fall and early part of the winter,"
Pastelok said.RELATED:US winter forecast: Frequent snow to blast Northeast5 weather threats to be wary of during the fall Check AccuWeather MinuteCast® for your location
The latter part of October delivered two storms with doses of cold
rain and accumulating wet snow across some of the higher elevations and
the normally colder northern areas.
The anticipated pattern from mid-November and lasting into December
will be due to a strong jet stream over the northern tier of the nation.
The jet stream, which is a fast river of air high in the atmosphere,
also represents the boundary between cold air to its north and warm air
to its south.
While cold and snow can sweep toward part of the New England coast
and the central Appalachians, snow will not be in a hurry to sweep
toward the mid-Atlantic Interstate 95 corridor into early December.
The anticipated cold waves should lead to lake-effect snow in
portions of western and upstate New York, western Pennsylvania and
northeastern Ohio.
Warm Great Lakes waters will initially cause a rain and snow mix
immediately downwind of the lakes. As the air gets colder into December,
accumulating snow will expand toward the lakeshore areas and into lower
elevations.
Motorists can beat the rush just ahead of the first big snowstorm of the season by preparing their vehicle for winter now.
Make sure windshield wipers are in good condition, the antifreeze can
handle the frigid mornings and there is significant tread on the tires.
While winter (snow) tires are the best option, a fresh set of
all-weather tires with an aggressive tread and sufficient thickness can
get most drivers through the bulk of winter road conditions.

By Brian Thompson, Meteorologist

October 30,2016; 8:30PM,EDT

The strongest earthquake to hit Italy since 1980 struck on Sunday morning, damaging numerous buildings and injuring many.
The U.S. Geological Survey assigned the quake a preliminary magnitude of 6.6, with a depth of 10 km.
The earthquake occurred at 7:40 a.m. on Sunday, local time, and was
centered 132 km (82 miles) northeast of Rome, near the town of Norcia.
According to the Associated Press, buildings collapsed in some of the
hardest-hit areas. One building that sustained major damage was the
14th century St. Benedict cathedral. Several people were also injured,
though there were no immediate reports of fatalities.
Several aftershocks have been reported since the initial quake with at least six having a magnitude of at least 4.0.
This area was hit by a 6.2-magnitude quake in August, which caused major damage and killed 290 people.
More recently, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck central Italy on Oct. 26.
Sunday's earthquake is the strongest one on record to strike Italy
since the Irpinia earthquake in 1980. That earthquake measured a
magnitude of 6.9 in 1980 and struck the southern portion of the country,
killing over two thousand people.

A road leading to Norcia is badly damaged from the earthquake. Twitter/@FrankPetrucci

Weather conditions through early this week should not hinder emergency operations or cleanup.
"The weather will be mainly dry across Italy early this week as high
pressure settles in," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said.
"However, a cold front may bring a few showers at midweek."AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root also contributed to this story.

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

October 30,2016; 8:22PM,EDT

A pair of storms with rain, wind and mountain snow will impact the West Coast of the United States into early this week.
The bulk of the rain is expected to focus on northern California
northward to Washington and eastward to Idaho and Montana into Monday.
Lighter showers will dampen Southern California, mainly from Los Angeles northward.
The first storm will spread rain, mountain snow and gusty winds across the West Coast into Monday morning.
The heaviest rain associated with the storm will focus on northwestern California and the western slopes of the northern Sierra.
"Upwards of 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected across northern
California with this storm," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle
Elliott.
A few showers could reach as far south as Los Angeles, but rainfall
totals will likely stay under 0.10 of an inch outside of the
southwestern slopes of the mountains.
Batches of showers and heavier downpours are expected to expand north
and east from Sunday into Monday, reaching areas from Seattle to
Billings, Montana.
Flooding will mostly be localized, but any areas under the most
persistent downpours may experience minor street and stream flooding.
The greatest threat for mudslides will exist in recent burn areas.
A gusty breeze will pick up as the storm moves through, with most
areas experiencing wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph. The highest winds
will likely target Nevada, where gusts between 40 and 50 mph are
predicted.RELATED:US winter forecast: Early storms to blast Northwest, northern CaliforniaWATCH: Stunning fall foliage compilationCheck AccuWeather MinuteCast® for your location
The strongest winds can lead to very sporadic power outages and minor
tree damage, given the saturated nature of the soil from rainfall this
past week.
In addition to the wet weather, there will also be a wintry side to
the storm as feet of snow target the Sierra Nevada and Teton Mountains.
"Snow levels will drop down to Interstate 80 at Donner Pass,
California, during Sunday and Sunday night," according to AccuWeather
Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Snowfall could reach 2 feet in the Sierra Nevada, creating dangerous travel conditions for anyone without tire chains.
Strong wind gusts will also howl, making travel nearly impossible for a time. Officials may be forced to close roads for a time.
The heaviest snow, in excess of 6 inches, will fall above 7,000 feet,
but snow can lightly coat grassy and elevated surfaces down to 5,500
feet later on Sunday.
"Skiers will certainly be happy with the snow," Elliott said.
As quickly as the first storm exits the region, a second, much weaker
storm will push inland with some rain across northern California from
late on Monday into Tuesday.
During the middle to latter part of the new week, the storm track
will shift farther north and aim for the Pacific Northwest and coast of
British Columbia.
"Toward midweek, a vigorous storm will pound British Columbia and
northern and western Washington with rain and gusty winds," Elliott
said.
Accuweather meteorologists expect this stormy pattern to persist across the Northwest and northern California into the start of winter.

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

October 30,2016; 6:06PM,EDT

A round of strong storms will threaten a portion of the Northeast later on Sunday, putting millions of people at risk.
An unseasonably warm air mass and a sufficient amount of moisture
will cause the atmosphere to turn unstable during Sunday afternoon and
evening across Ohio, Pennsylvania, southern New York, New Jersey and
Maryland. An approaching cold front will cause a few thunderstorms to
ignite, some of which may turn strong.
"Some of the storms will be capable of producing a few wind gusts to
60 mph," AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Alex Avalos said.
Wind gusts of this magnitude could bring down small trees, cause power outages and blow around any loose objects outside.
A few places that could have heavy and gusty thunderstorms include
New York City, Trenton, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh
and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Travel on interstates 76, 79, 80, 81, and 95 could be impacted for a time by passing showers and thunderstorms.
The storms will bring downpours that will lower visibility and slow
travel. Motorists will want to use caution if they encounter a brief
period of heavy rain. Outdoor plans will likely be delayed or even
ruined later on Sunday.RELATED:Northeast Weather Radar5 weather threats to be wary of during the fall AccuWeather Severe Weather Center
"The storms will also be capable of producing a few instances of large hail," Avalos warned.
Folks will want to keep an eye to the sky and to weather radar this afternoon and evening.
Any strong thunderstorms that do develop are expected to weaken late this evening once the sun sets.
Despite November being just a couple days away, thunderstorms this
time of the year in the Northeast still can pack a punch under the right
conditions. Clashes of warm and cold air can stir up the atmosphere
just enough for strong thunderstorms to form during mid- to late autumn.